STAMFORD -- Fresh off primary loses in Alabama and Mississippi and a win in the Hawaii caucus, Mitt Romney, Republican candidate for president, will appear at a $2,500-a-head reception in Stamford tonight.

The former Massachusetts governor's campaign recently announced Romney will attend an evening reception in his honor at the Stamford Marriott Hotel. The suggested contribution, according to a flyer regarding the 6 p.m. event, is $2,500 per person and $5,000 per couple.

By law, the maximum amount an individual may contribute is $2,500 per person, per election. According to the invitation, federal multi-candidate PACs may contribute $5,000 per election. Contributions by corporations, foreign nationals (non-green card holders), labor unions, federal government contractors, and minors under the age of 18 are prohibited.

Jerry Pia, the chairman of Stamford's Republican Town Committee, who is a Romney supporter, said RTC members are spreading the word about the presidential candidate's upcoming visit.

"I think its fantastic," he said. "A Republican candidate for president is coming to Stamford. The RTC is sending out an e-mail blast to every member, and I know that everyone is very excited about Mitt Romney coming here. It's going to be a great event."

The event is being co-chaired by a list of 61, mostly local residents, including former Connecticut gubernatorial candidate Tom Foley.

Caucuses in Hawaii were also on the calendar Tuesday in the race to pick an opponent to President Barack Obama this fall.

There were 107 Republican National Convention delegates at stake, 47 in Alabama, 37 in Mississippi, 17 in Hawaii and six more in caucuses in American Samoa.

Each of the three leading contenders faced a different challenge in Alabama and Mississippi, where heavy television advertising was evidence of the states' unaccustomed significance deep in the nominating campaign.

Gingrich struggled for political survival, Romney sought a strong showing to silence his critics and Santorum hoped to emerge at last as the chief conservative rival to the front-runner.

Rep. Ron Paul, the fourth contender, made little effort in the states on the day's ballot.

The Southern showdown came as new polling showed a recent decline in Obama's approval ratings -- after they had been rising -- amid escalating gasoline prices and turbulence in the Middle East. And those issues were showing up in the Republican campaign.